Khanya e isoe ho Molimo holimo

About me

Since blogs are often expressions of personal opinion, many people like to have a more general idea about the person who is writing, a sort of indication of where they are coming from. So here, for those who want to know, is a guide to my general point of view as a writer (thanks, Kierkegaard!)

First, I’m an Orthodox Christian, and that, I hope, influences my worldview and point of view as a writer.

Second, I’m a liberal.

But that needs to be qualified. I’m a political liberal, not an economic or theological liberal.

I believe that theological liberalism leads to political conservatism and vice versa. As G.K. Chesterton once put it, one should always be changing the world to fit the vision, not always changing one’s vision to fit the world . Theological liberals never change the world, because they will always change their theology to find one more fashionable. So they are forever creating a theology of this and a theology of that and a theology of something else.

And not being an economic liberal means I have little sympathy with the economic views of neoliberals and American libertarians. I have quite a lot of sympathy with the views of Anarcho-Syndicalists, though they would probably not acknowledge me as one of their own.

I used to be Anglican, and was sometimes asked about my Churchmanship. That sort of thing is important to Anglicans, or used to be when I was one. If anyone is wondering, it is Revolutionary Orthodox (which is an entirely different thing from an orthodox revolutionary). Google “Death to the World”, “Youth of the Apocalypse” and “the last true rebellion” if you want to learn more.

In terms of Samuel Huntington’s Clash of civilizations I’m a walking clash all by myself, with the fault lines running right through me, because I am

African by birth

Western by education

Orthodox by second birth (birth from above)

And I’m INTP.

“INTPs are relatively easy-going and amenable to most anything until their principles are violated, about which they may become outspoken and inflexible. They prefer to return, however, to a reserved albeit benign ambiance, not wishing to make spectacles of themselves.”

Yeah, that figures.

Ready to make your stereotype/cliche yet?

Oh yes, stereotypes/cliches are images based on outmoded technology (hot-metal typesetting, in case you didn’t know). That should indicate to you that I’m also a curmudgeonly old fart who can still remember such things, doesn’t have an iPod, and doesn;t know what a Wii is, and can’t understand why Paris Hilton is more popular than Tshwane Sheraton.

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Ah, someone similar!!, ex-Prot Orthodox, with strong Anarcho-syndicalist leanings (I have been connected with them here in Australia for 30 years), and definitely not pro-Bush! And an INTP as well.
To pass on some lessons as an incarnational church-planter (Prot history) I’ve just started healthyemergingchurch.blogspot.com/
I’ll be back 🙂

Hey Steve, what a refreshing and pleasant read. glad to have made your acquaintance on my blog. Even though we don’t seem to be cut from exactly the same cloth I too am an ex Anglican (or more exactly the church of the Province of SA for the politically correct). I too am an INTP…what is with these guys!

I have a mini IPOD (used for gym escapism) and that is about it. I am a Pastor so it would indicate that I love Jesus and am a bussionary. I use business skills in a missionary context.

“I believe that theological liberalism leads to political conservatism and vice versa.”

This is quite an interesting observation. Try as I might I can’t think of any instances where this has happened. The Dutch Reformed Church certainly did not base their support for apartheid on any form of theological liberalism. The sexist pope is certainly not a liberal theologian. The homophobia that rules the Anglican churches of Nigeria and Uganda is definitely not a product of their liberal exegesis. Actually I know many liberal theologians and I can’t think of a single social conservative among them. The social conservatives I know all are quite conservative in their approach to the Bible as well.

Steve, very interesting. I think DttW is very profoundly meaningful though as a convert to Islam (also from a punk background, as they were) I can’t whole heartedly follow along with some of the conclusions they came to. I have several Orthodox links on my blog though, with your permission I’ll add yours. Reading about figures like Priest-Monk Nestor was really intriguing to me though as we seem to share a simple spiritual disposition and interest in martial arts depite our differing theologies. I also am in agreement with your basic approach; I am very conservative and orthodox theologically (again, within Islam) but my politics are mostly to the left. I will certainly be stopping by again.

Thanks for the comments. I read your blog and it seems as if we might be more similar than I thought. Expressed in different ways. But I am also similar in my believes. I like the way you think and the way you express this.

I’m INTP too and walk a cruciform (I hope and pray) path between Anglicanism and Orthodoxy. Though I would call myself a “paleocon,” using contemporary lingo, your self description has me thinking that, just maybe, I am a “liberal” after all!

I knew Steve as a pre-teen/early teen when he was an Anglican priest and when he was banned which was a shocking culture shock in the midst of our quiet old-regime suburban life in Durban North. Maybe that sowed a seed which has led to my current calling as a volunteer in the African Christian Democratic Party where I serve as National Chairman. Trying to truly serve the needs of society by putting capable men and women of integrity into government!

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